The Burnham family of Cobourg will receive the 2018 James Crossen Lifetime Achievement Award from the Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce (NCCOFC) and the Town of Cobourg. Pictured are award sponsor Hillary Allen of Cobourg Orthopaedic and Sports Injury Clinic with members of the Burnham family (Mark, Anne, Jen, Katie, Amy, and Paul) with Cobourg community events coordinator Jackie Chapman Davis and past NCCOFC chair Tonya King. (Photo courtesy of Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce)

This week we feature a lifetime achievement award for one of Cobourg’s founding families, awards for two local economic development organizations, development plans for land at the Kawartha Golf and Country Club, and upcoming business events including a community meeting hosted by Nexicom, a webinar about online security, a session on how Bill 148 affects the construction industry, and more.

Cobourg’s Burnham family to receive lifetime achievement award on February 23

Last Thursday (February 8), the Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Cobourg announced the Burnham family of Cobourg are the recipients of this year’s James Crossen Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award, which recognizes outstanding lifetime achievement and contribution to the business community, is named after James Crossen, founder of Cobourg Car Works and one of Cobourg’s earliest and most successful entrepreneurs.

One of Cobourg’s founding families, the Burnhams began farming when they arrived in the area in 1798, and have been cornerstones of the agricultural community ever since. Current owners Paul and Anne Burnham expanded the property in 1994 with the purchase of adjacent farmland and opened the Burnham Family Farm Market.

The Burnham Family Farm Market in Cobourg is open from May 1st to December 23rd. (Photo: Kawarthas Northumberland / RTO8)

Today, Paul and Anne along with their four children grow nearly 2,000 acres of cash crops, with another 40 dedicated to market gardens. Katie co-manages the Burnham Family Farm Market with Anne, Amy focuses her attention on fruit and vegetable production, Mark and Paul are partners in the crop and market side of the operation, and Jen runs a horse boarding and riding operation.

The Burnhams are also strong community supporters, with Paul being a past chair of the Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce and the local Federation of Agriculture. He and Anne are also long-time supporters of the Northumberland United Way (they were campaign chairs in 2014) and the entire Burnham family volunteers in local agricultural and arts organizations.

The Burnhams will officially receive the award at the Business Achievement Awards Gala, which takes place on Friday, February 23rd at the Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn & Convention Centre (930 Burnham St., Cobourg).

In addition to the James Crossen Lifetime Achievement Award, the gala will present The Mayor’s Award and the Chamber Chair’s Award as well as awards in nine different business categories. Tickets are $85 per person and are available at the Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce (278 George St., Cobourg) or online at nccofc.ca.

Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development won the Special Events award at the Economic Developers Council of Ontario 2018 Awards of Excellence for “Under Water Dining at Lock 21”, where visitors dine at the Peterborough Lift Lock. (Photo: Michael Hurcomb)
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED) received an award last Wednesday (February 7) at the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) 2018 Awards of Excellence.

The organization received the Special Events Award for the “Under Water Dining at Lock 21” experience, which previously won the Culinary Tourism Leadership Award at the Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence last November.

The experience was developed in partnership with Parks Canada (Trent-Severn Waterway) and The Canadian Canoe Museum, with the support of Regional Tourism Organization 8 and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Sport.

This is third consecutive year PKED has received an Economic Developers Council of Ontario Award of Excellence. In 2017, the organization won the marketing award in the advertising category for their food and agriculture video. In 2016, PKED received the award for public-private private Partnership for the development of the area’s first official road cycling routes.

Representatives of the Eastern Ontario Leadership Council with their Collaboration & Partnership Award from the Economic Developers Council of Ontario on February 7, 2018. (Photo: Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus / Twitter)

The Eastern Ontario Leadership Council (EOLC) also won an award at the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) 2018 Awards of Excellence last Wednesday (February 7).

EOLC, a multi-organization partnership tasked with advancing regional economic development opportunities, received the Collaboration & Partnership Award in the category of “Regional and Cross-Border Collaboration”, representing populations of 250,000 and greater.

Formed in 2015, the council has five major partners: the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, the Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus, the Eastern Ontario Regional Network, the Ontario East Economic Development Commission, and Community Futures Ontario East.

“The Eastern Ontario Leadership Council is a unique organization in Ontario,” says EOLC Co-Chair Leslie O’Shaughnessy, Mayor of the City of Cornwall. “Founded on the principle of promoting regional economic development in collaboration with the many municipalities and stakeholders across our entire region, our territory includes more than 110 municipalities, which together represent about 1.2 million residents.”

Local developer plans to build a retirement residence on land acquired from Kawartha Golf and Country Club

The Kawartha Golf and Country Club will use proceeds from the sale to AON Inc. of a 23-acre parcel of land along Clonsilla Avenue to help revitalize the golf course and facilities. AON plans to build a retirement residence and more on the land. (Photo: Kawartha Golf and Country Club)

Local developer AON Inc. has entered into a conditional purchase and sale agreement with Kawartha Golf and Country Club for a 23-acre parcel of land along Clonsilla Avenue.

According to AON president Brad Smith, long-term plans for the site include a full-service retirement residence, luxury seniors apartments, and a mix of apartment and condominium housing.

Proceeds from the sale of land will help Kawartha Golf and Country Club proceed with its plans to revitalize the golf course and facilities, including building a new clubhouse, an expanded driving range and practice area, and two new replacement holes designed by golf course architect Ian Andrew.

AON will complete a due diligence period with the goal of finalizing the purchase late in 2018, while beginning the approval process with the City of Peterborough to expedite official plan and zoning approvals.

AON has a portfolio of residential apartment properties and commercial space in Peterborough, as well as apartment holdings in Houston, Texas, and a residential development and golf course in Port Hope. The company owns and operates two licensed long-term care homes in Millbrook and Tweed, in addition to the “Gardens of Peterborough” retirement residences including Canterbury Gardens, Royal Gardens, Princess Gardens, and Empress Gardens.

Nexicom holding community meeting in Warsaw on February 13

Millbrook-based telecommunications provider Nexicom is hosting an informal community meeting from 12 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, February 13th at the Warsaw Town Hall (894 South St., Warsaw).

Nexicom will share information about its future plans for technological improvements and upgrades to existing internet services and infrastructure. All local area residents and business owners, along with current Nexicom residential and business customers, are invited to attend.

Network operations and wireless internet specialists from Nexicom will be there, and complimentary refreshments and snacks will be provided.

MicroAge hosts webinar on protecting your business from online security threats on February 15

MicroAge is hosting a webinar on how to protect your business from online security threats including malware, phishing attacks, ransomware, and viruses.

The webinar, intended for business owners and anyone who has the responsibility for making a business secure, takes place at 1 p.m. on Thursday, February 15th. The seminar will provide information on layering your security to avoid or minimize becoming the victim of an attack.

The webinar is free, but space is limited. For more information and to register, visit www.microage.ca

Nominations for the Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce’s 12th Annual Business & Community Achievement Awards are open until 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 15th.

Award categories are Business Achievement, Customer First, Business, Customer First, Employee, Entrepreneur of the Year, Innovation & Creativity, New Business (1-3 years), Young Professional of the Year, Not-for-Profit of the Year, Skilled Trades & Industry, Tourism & Hospitality, and Highlander of the Year.

The awards gala will be held on Saturday, March 17th at Pinestone Resort (4252 Haliburton County Rd 21, Haliburton).

The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce’s annual “Power Hour” — an evening with Peterborough’s elected officials — returns on Wednesday, February 21st.

The event takes place from 5:30 to 9 p.m at The Venue in downtown Peterborough.

There will be a full hour of questions and answers with Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef, MPP Peterborough Jeff Leal, County of Peterborough Warden Joe Taylor, and City of Peterborough Mayor Daryl Bennett.

Tickets cost $65 for Chamber members and $75 for non-members (or $450 for a table of seven for members and $525 for non-members). HST will be added to the ticket price. Register here.

GE employees career fair on February 23

A career fair where employers can explore potential opportunities with more than 300 employees transitioning from GE in Peterborough is taking place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, February 23rd at the Evinrude Centre (911 Monaghan Rd., Peterborough).

Employers will have the opportunity to showcase their companies and employment opportunities while meeting with GE employees from a wide range of fields including engineers, programmers, production workers, lab technicians, and much more.

“Bridges Out of Poverty” workshop for employers on March 7

The City and County of Peterborough Social Services, along with Agilec, Employment Ontario, Employment Planning & Counselling, Fleming Crew Employment Centre, and the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge, are hosting a free workshop for employers on “Bridges out of Poverty”.

The Bridges out of Poverty framework, which originated in the U.S. and has been adopted by other communities in Canada, aims to help people who grew up in poverty and educate the agencies who assist them. The workshop will provide information on the framework as well as the variety of financial incentives available for employers in the community. It will also provide information on understanding and retaining employees.

The free workshop takes place from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 7th at Agilec Peterborough office (Brookdale Plaza, 863 Chemong Rd, Unit 20-A). Refreshments will be served.

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Our mandate is to provide current events and community information to residents, visitors and cottagers in Peterborough and The Kawarthas and all surrounding communities — from Lindsay and the City of Kawartha Lakes to Campbellford, north to Haliburton and Bancroft and south to the Lakeshore — and all places in between.Contact UsOur Editorial Team